Many of us have heard about the strike organized by the Egyptian taxi drivers last week. They think that Uber’s and Careem’s growing popularity in Egypt is taking over their business. However, the strike didn’t receive much attention nor sympathy for a number of reasons and this is why:

1-You stop a taxi only to be refused being given a ride for several different reasons

They tell you that your desired destination isn’t on their route, as if they should only give you a ride when the destination suits them, or claim that the place you wish to go is too congested right now and they would like to avoid it. Whatever the reason, fact is they refuse to take you where you want to go a lot of the times.

2-Don’t switch on el 3adad

White cabs should have a 3adad that has to be turned on every single trip so customers know how much the ride costs. however, they refuse to turn it on most of the times.

3-They can drop you off anywhere, if it’s zahma or if they feel like it

If it gets too crowded in the middle of the way, they suggest you get off the car or maybe take a walk because it would take them too much time to escape from traffic.

4-They keep nagging you the whole time about how crowded it is

If there’s a traffic jam, they keep complaining the whole duration of the ride about how crowded it is and might even blame you for it, making you feel like they’re doing you a favor.

5-They never turn on the AC and get really bothered if you ask them to

It might be the hottest day in summer and you’re sobbing in sweat but they still won’t turn on the AC. They might finally do if you insist, but trust me, it really gets on their nerves.

6-They might let someone share the ride with you

You might be riding a cab peacefully when suddenly another person hails it, and to your surprise, you find the driver pulling over for them to give them a ride too as if it’s a bus.

Well lastly, I’d like to point out that like there are extremely rude and bad taxi drivers, there are good drivers who are unfortunately overshadowed by the others. I’ve personally rode with some extremely polite and professional taxi drivers and they deserve sympathy but unfortunately they’re paying for their colleagues’ mistakes. As hard as it is to sympathize with them, we should at least still pity some of them because after all it’s not easy for them.